Fall 2010 Trends

Seen on the fall runway collections of designers like Balmain and Cynthia Steffe, military is a trend that's here to stay. In the past few seasons, military sort of evolved from the nautical trend. It was more army-inspired and masculine. But this fall, military takes on a whole new form through jewelry, skirts, and even dresses.

Military - Your Way

Oasis Military Tie Back Top, Navy blue, 16, 40 GBP Military Mac, 45 GBP Urban Outfitters - Pins & Needles Military Pocket Skirt, 30 GBP ASOS TRAVIS Eyelet & Lace Detail Shoe Boot, $71 A. Kurtz Russell Backpack in Military Green, $98 Fossil Military Button Bracelet, $75

I've always loved the military trend but in the past seasons, mostly it's just been blazers and jackets and I was never able to pull off a good military jacket. Every single one I tried looked too masculine on me, like I was a little girl playing dress-up as an army officer. So thank goodness that military has evolved into feminine pieces like dresses and skirts! I love the navy top from above which has just a touch of prep and the chic cream skirt.

Typically more of a spring trend, nude makes its presence this fall by appearing in jackets from designers like Valentino. The soft color is perfect for autumn.

Nude - Your Way

Nude Crochet Dress, 47 GBP Emma Vintage Extreme Pushup Bra - aerie, $45 Harajuku Lovers Dmaker Heel - Nude, $90 ASOS Nude Feather Clutch, $42 Fenn Wright Manson Linen Pashmina, Nude, 25 GBP Kut From The Kloth Trench - Editors' Picks Under $100 - Fall Fashion...

Nude pumps are one of my favorite things ever - they make everyone's legs look longer and slimmer. Of course, nude bras are a must-have for those thin, sheer tops. Also, a khaki/nude trend coat is a necessity for fall.

Seen on the collections from Oscar de la Renta to Stella McCartney, lace is a super sexy trend for fall. Plus, lace doesn't mean all-black, as exemplified by the green dress above. Nevertheless, to make a bold statement, black lace is the way to go.

Lace - Your Way

Lace Insert Loose Tank by ALLMYLOVE, 41 GBP Nude Lace Tails Jacket, 40 GBP Elle Macpherson Intimates Lace underwire bra, $90 Urban Outfitters - Silence + Noise Tiered Lace Skirt, 35 GBP ASOS TOBAGO Lace & Bow Shoe Boot, $76 Lace Handbag Grayish Blue - One Size, $58 Mink Lace Scarf, 12 GBP

I think lace is such a great trend because it's so feminine yet sexy at the same time. Consider a fitted lace blazer, a thin lacy scarf, or even a lace miniskirt - as long as it's not see-through! Lace/mesh booties are also a must-have this fall.

Back-to-school season always means a little bit of prep - think East Coast Ivy League. But this season's prep is nothing like the overdone Lacoste polos and navy skirts - it's about new ways of wearing plaid, school-girl cashmere sweaters, and sophisticated Lacoste.

Prep - Your Way

Cream Sleevless Ruffle Blouse, 28 GBP Color Contrast Trim Blazer, $40 Old Navy Womens Tweed Mini Skirts, $27 Rib Over Knee Socks, $12 Sperry Top-Sider Women's Freeport Skimmer, $27 RALPH LAUREN SS10/C91IMMBG V1412 CANVAS BORSA, 79 GBP Betsey Johnson - Betsey Paris French Dog Stretch Bracelet (Pearl) -..., $59 Midnight Flower Statement Alice Band, 10 GBP

September is the perfect season to break out those preppy, school-girl pieces. Think crisp navy blazers, over-the-knee wool socks, and of course, classic plaid Sperry Topsiders. For accessories, look for grown-up charm bracelets and floral headbands. Great brands to browse through are Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, and Juicy Couture.

Draping is another trend that's super hot for fall. Seen down the runways of many designers, this trend is polished and sexy.

Draping - Your Way

satin jewel drape bandeau dress, 45 GBP Cream Silk Drape Cape, $100 Jigsaw at John Lewis Cash Silk Drape Cardigan, Heather, M, 55 GBP Miso Long Sleeve Draped T-Shirt, 23 GBP Ruffled Drape Skirt, 100 AUD Naughty Monkey Women's Cool For School Boot, $75

This trend takes on many forms, from dresses to jackets to skirts. My favorite is a fitted draped dress - the cascading silk camouflages less-than-perfect abs while the fitted style keeps things sexy. Another favorite is a soft, drapey, chiffon cardigan.

What are your favorite trends for this fall?

Fall 2010 Makeup Trends: DVF's Shimmery Charcoal

Fall makeup is typically marked by earthy tones and dark liners, a distinct step away from the pastels of spring and bronze and brights of summer. As autumn approaches, it's time to change up your go-to makeup look. Diane von Furstenberg's Fall 2010 runway serves as the perfect example of classic fall makeup with a modern twist.

In an interview with Elle Magazine, DVF's makeup artist James Kaliardos said that the collection was inspired by the evolving women, much like a butterfly going through metamorphosis. While one typically thinks pastels when it comes to the word "butterfly", DVF's makeup definitely did not go down that road. Instead, Kaliardos opted for an edgier route - and below are how you can recreate these looks whether your budget is luxe or less.

The Inspiration

The Essentials

Make Up For Ever Aqua Black Waterproof Cream Eye Shadow, $22 Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Glimmer Ell-If-I-Know, $13 MAKE UP FOR EVER Glitters Gold 1, $13 Revlon 001 Nude Attitude Matte Lipstick .15 Oz: Beauty, $5.94 Yves Saint Laurent - Rouge Volupte (Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick SPF..., $35 NYX Glitter Cream Pallete Paradise Ulta.com - Cosmetics, Fragrance,..., $5.99 Makeup and Cosmetics | Eye Shadow | Cream Eye Shadow, $1 shimmering facial whip clipped by salvsnena, $1

How-To:

• Begin with your most trusty eyeshadow primer. Since you'll be working with dark colors and this is a heavy look with lots of shadows involved, you want to be careful about flaking and creasing. A good eyeshadow primer will make the colors appear more vibrant, prevent creases, and keep your makeup in place all day long. I recommend Urban Decay's Primer Potion - an industry favorite - or E.L.F.'s eyelid primer, which comes at just $1 a pop and works almost equally as well as Urban Decay's. Apply primer all over the lids up to your brow bones and on the corners and around the lower lash line. Wait two minutes for the primer to dry before moving on to the next step.

• Layer black cream eyeshadow all over your lids with a shadow brush, blending up to the brow bones so that the color is heaviest closest to your eyes. A cream shadow works better than powder in this case because it allows for more layering (you'll be putting on more colors in the next step) and it gives a clean, gleamy look rather than the dry, shimmery look that most power shadows have. For a less daring look, use cream charcoal shadow instead.

• Wetting a liner brush, dip it in blue glitter and line your upper and lower lash lines, going more heavy on the upper lash line. Repeat with the green glitter.

• Using a shadow brush, dust some pearly white shimmer on the inner corners of your eyes to lighten up the dark look and give your eyes a fresh, dewy glow.

• Go for the nude look on your skin since there's already a lot going on with the eyes and finish off with nude lipstick.

Click here for complete makeup instructions and details on what products Kaliardos used.

Fall 2010 Style: Inspired by Juicy Couture

Juicy Couture is one of my favorite brands. To me, it epitomizes a fashionable college girl who is preppy with a bit of glam. If you're unfamiliar with the brand, you might think that Juicy is nothing more than velour sweats and blinged-out terry handbags. However, Juicy is so much more than that. They offer a whole line of ready-to-wear clothing, from coats to jeans to shoes.

Unfortunately, Juicy's price range can be a bit high for the average college girl working to pay off her tuition loans. So below are some Juicy Couture-inspired fall looks recreated with pieces that are much more budget-friendly.

Pretty in Plaid

Jaeger 3/4 Length Sleeve Jersey Top, Charcoal, XL, 60 GBP Neiman Marcus - Sale & Values - Skirts - Apparel for Her, $48 Flannel Plaid Skirt, $55 40 Denier Opaque Tights, 4 GBP Unlisted Women's Saddle Up Riding Boot, $52 Women's AE Checked Square Scarf (Crow), $20

This outfit represents the ultimate preppy yet sophisticated college girl. I'm personally a huge fan of the prep-school look (especially on boys - Lacoste polo + khaki shorts + Sperry boatshoes = instant love), but it's not middle school anymore and preppy no longer means mini-skirt, pink polo, and pearls pocketed from your mother's jewelry collection. This sophisticated-preppy look is a much more grown-up take on old-school prep yet youthful at the same time. Plus, it's absolutely perfect for fall days while walking around an ivy-covered campus.

The building blocks of this outfit is a classic plaid mini-skirt (in flannel or wool, preferably dark-green-and-navy checkered or in a color combination like the one in the above outfit) and a trusty heather-gray long-sleeve shirt.

Next, you need a good pair of riding boots. Look for one with little to no heel and hits just below the knees. A dark hue like black or gunmetal works best for this outfit.

Accessorize with a square scarf that can be draped triangle-style across your neck. You can either go matchy-matchy with the skirt as in the original look by Juicy Couture or you can put a twist on it and wear a scarf of a contrasting pattern. Make sure the scarf is of neutral colors though as you can't wear too much color with plaid. Finally, throw on a pair of semi-sheer black tights if it's cold out or feel free to go sans-tights; either way works great with this outfit.

Rocker Ski Bunny

Juicy Couture | Shop Online | Women | Apparel Short-sleeved cotton T-shirt, $43 Lipsy Faux Fur Jacket, 75 GBP Jersey Shorts, 18 GBP Unlisted Women's Saddle Up Riding Boot, $52

This look is all about contrast: you've got the feminine pink top against edgy riding boots, snowy fur jacket against jersey shorts. It's a very bold and high-fashion look that's perfect for a girl wanting to experiment with something new. Plus, the boots and jacket makes the shorts weather-appropriate for even late fall, and that's something shorts-lovers (like me) can all rejoice over!

Start with an oversized baby pink v-neck that can be tucked into shorts. If your budget allows, go for a silk one for some added luxe. Next, a pair of gunmetal shorts is a great complement to the pink top. Look for a simple, trouser-style one with metal detailing, which is a huge trend for fall and adds some rocker-chic to the overall feel.

The real "rocker" part of this outfit comes from the boots. I used the same boots here for this outfit as the preppy outfit, which just shows how versatile a simple pair of black riding boots can be. A brown or gray pair would also work here, although make sure to get flat ones. The wrong pair of heeled boots can easily make this outfit look trashy.

Last but most importantly is a white or creamy-beige fur jacket. Of course, if real fur is out of your budget or if you just don't feel comfortable wearing an animal, faux fur works just as well. Just make sure to invest time in looking for a good one as faux fur can sometimes look very cheap. This jacket from Lipsy is both affordable and adorable; it will keep you warm during the late autumn months and give you a cute ski-bunny look.

Sophisticated Perfection

Juicy Couture | Shop Online | Women | New Arrivals, $128 Misses Floral-Print Silk Georgette Tie-Neck Top - Gray-multi, $39 Miss Sixty Faux Washed Leather Motorcycle Jacket, $78 Jeans for her - Shop All Denim - Nordstrom, 48 CAD VELOCITY Heavy Stud Pumps, $44

This outfit strikes me as the perfect "meet-his-parents" look. After all, who wouldn't want a daughter-in-law who is classy, sophisticated, and fashionable? It's also perfect for wearing to class or for a chat with your professor as it's professional yet very wearable.

To recreate this outfit, start off with a silky floral tank in muted colors and skinny black pants. The pants can even be denim but steer away from leggings unless your top covers your behind (leggings as pants do not bode well with professors or boyfriend's parents). Add some studded flats for a look that is polished and chic.

With those three items, you've already got a look that stands on its own. Remember to look for a tank that's not too revealing. A tie-neck piece like the one above is perfect because it doesn't bare any cleavage yet is still sexy and feminine by accentuating your bare shoulders.

Finally, if it's chilly out, throw on a cropped leather jacket in cargo green, gray, or a color that complements the color of your top. Don't go for all-black as that may look too strong against the black pants.